Covid-19 cases on the rise in 21 US states

The endless plateau. While the coronavirus pandemic is ebbing in Europe and China, and progressing in new regions (Latin America, India, Russia, Middle East), the United States seems to have been blocked for more than two months around 20,000 new ones cases and 1,000 deaths daily. And while the epidemic is declining significantly in New York and the Northeast, 21 states have seen an increase in the number of new cases since the end of May, according to data from John Hopkins University.

The USA, stuck on a plateau of 20,000 new cases of covid per day for more than 2 months #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/hDg4lOMAng

The increase in the number of tests partly explains these figures. But the deconfinement, sometimes very relaxed, especially in Las Vegas, and the many demonstrations that have brought together hundreds of thousands of people since the death of George Floyd, are closely watched by experts. "We are far from finished with the virus," warned infectious disease specialist Anthony Fauci on Tuesday.

Family gatherings and uninhibited deconfinement

The numbers are rising sharply in half a dozen states. The number of new cases in particular tripled in Arizona, South Carolina, Arkansas and Florida between the end of May and June 8. In Arizona, the number of daily tests has doubled since early May, and the majority are mostly mild cases. In Texas, North Carolina and South Carolina, by contrast, hospitalizations are up from the previous month. It will take several weeks to see if the death numbers follow.

In California, health officials have recorded increases of more than 50% in some counties, including Sacramento. Contact tracing largely points to cases contracted during family gatherings during the long weekend of Memorial day in late May. As the deconfinement continues, and bars and cinemas must reopen, great disparities emerge on the wearing of masks: very widespread in predominantly democratic states, like New York, but much less in the South (Texas, Georgia, Louisiana). In Las Vegas, the images of the reopening of casinos have enough to give cold sweats to epidemiologists, with a distance as optional as the masks.

Las Vegas is officially back. pic.twitter.com/EI3nXs2e5w

Question mark on demonstrations

Since the death of George Floyd on May 26, hundreds of thousands of Americans have taken part in protests against racism and police violence in several hundred cities. In processions, like the one on Hollywood boulevard, which gathered 25,000 people, Sunday, almost impossible to practice social distancing, for the demonstrators as for the journalists. An overwhelming majority of people wear a mask, but not everyone does. As a precaution, the experts recommend that all participants be tested a week after demonstrating.

This was captured by @ IG: yakooza. ❤️ Today, @BLMLA @BLMLA March down Hollywood Blvd. #BlackLivesMattters #BlackLivesMatters #defundthepolice pic.twitter.com/H7V3TS33Yg

"Will the protests cause an increase in Covid-19 cases?" Yes. Will it be anecdotal, a rebound or a sharp increase? We don't know, ”said New York Presbyterian Emergency Director Craig Spencer on Twitter. According to him, being outdoors and wearing a mask reduces the risk of transmission, but density is an aggravating factor. Not to mention the use of tear gas by the police and nights at the post in overcrowded cells. In Washington, several members of the National Guard have tested positive for Covid-19 in recent days, authorities have confirmed.

So, what about about going forward?

Will the protests result in more # COVID19 cases? Yes.

Will it be a blip, a bump, or a bigger rise? We don't know.

Being outdoors & wearing masks (as most protesters seemingly have been) definitely helps to decrease the risk of transmission.

Spencer, who fought the Ebola epidemic in Africa, believes that "protesters know the risks." According to him, “fighting 400 years of racial injustice is worth it. "

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• Covid 19
• Coronavirus
• World
• United States
• Deconfinement